WIFI ADSL Modem problem (I think)

[TonyA]

Hi all, looking for some advice on following problem!

I have a Marconi WIFI ADSL router supplied by Telkom. ADSL is 512 and I am running WIN XP Pro on a laptop. P4 2.8 etc. I have been using a Telkom WIFI Stick (Dongle) to connect to modem for last 6 weeks. I have 2 other PCs hardwired to router/modem.

All PCs including laptop connect just fine to home network and internet when hardwired.

The laptop was working fine with WIFI Dongle until last night. When I pluuged in it would not find network or connect to internet, although it was sometimes interrmitent ie would connect and then disconnect. Signal and Link strength indication was good and dongle indicated it was connected.

Initially I thought software and TP settings were incorrect but nothing worked. Rebooted modem several times and this did not work. Modem has constant light for ADSL and WAN. This morning I bought a new wifi dongle Dlink. (I tried Telkom shop for new dongle but after watching person behind counter looking through all sorts of things but no dongle until I fetched in myself. I then watched him trying to enter purchase into PC. This took about 20 mins and I decided enough was enough and went elsewhere after telling them where they could put dongle!)

Any how cannot get new dongle to work either. Have tried new network setting, adjusted settings. Dongle indicates it is connected and has good signal etc, but will not connect to network or internet.

I now suspect that fault lies with wifi section of router/modem!

Is there any way I can test or is there something else I can try!

At moment hardwired and all is working!

 

[TonyA]

To add to previous post re WIFI Problem

I have also consulted various websites and forums to try and resolve problem to no avail!

 

[mancombseepgood]

You may have to rely on Telkom for this one

What a pity.. wait for them to arrive, accept their verdict whatever it is, and just have to believe them if they say it's your fault (and possibly charge you for a call-out)... Anyone else looking into getting a complete solution from Telkom, I recommend using a (non telkom) ISP for this kind of thing... and never sign telkom contracts... my 5c worth

 

[TonyA]

Guess what just tried again after being hardwired for 24 hrs and wifi works. Link strength is intermittent varies between 40 and 100% but signal strength good. Will never understand wireless, but suspect it may have had something to do with router automatically allocating IP address. Both dongles work Dlink much improvement over Telkom WIFI stick

 

[mancombseepgood]

In my experience

USB Wifi is generally problematic - you never seem to get the same power output and signal strength. I've had far more success with PCI cards in a PC on the floor, that a USB goodie on the desk... But then the convenience of usb...

 

[Lsdjackedupekse]

Hey, yeah its they USB WIFI dongle that goes funky, its all to do with the correct voltage goin to the dongle, i would return them and invest in a PCMCIA WIFI Card, that works a whole lot better...

XXXI have expriced the same problem on corporate LAN WIFI network and sorted it out with the PCMCIA WIFI CardXXX

 

[TonyA]

Thanks. The problem actually seems to be the automatic allocation of the IP address via the router/modem. Both dongles are now connecting to Internet and Network

 

[adsl3g]

Hey, yeah its they USB WIFI dongle that goes funky, its all to do with the correct voltage goin to the dongle, i would return them and invest in a PCMCIA WIFI Card, that works a whole lot better...

XXXI have expriced the same problem on corporate LAN WIFI network and sorted it out with the PCMCIA WIFI CardXXX

I had problems with USB and power before but that was running it through an add- on USB multiple port - When I plugged it directly into the USB port on the PC it was fine.

 

[Lsdjackedupekse]

mmm interesting, i have also noticed that diff manufacturers cards,dongles, PC's and laptops perform differently, you wouldn't think so as USB suppossed be be an international std. i have got a PCMCIA USB 2 card that caused external devices like HDD (that have ext Power) to blow because it does no provide the right voltage, spoke to the manufacturer and they say plug in an external pwr source into the PCMCIA card???!!!???